Socceroo Ikonomidis joins Danish club on season loan from Lazio

The player hopes the move will keep him in contention for a place in the Socceroos squad

As the Socceroos embark on the last stage of World Cup Qualifiers over the next 12 months, Socceroo winger Chris Ikonomidis will leave Rome’s Lazio and embark on a season long loan to Danish Super League club AGF in a bid to get more precious game time, in a hope that it will keep him in contention for a place in the Socceroos squad.

Currently in Ang Postecoglou’s Socceroos squad for the first two matches in the last stage of the Socceroos’ qualifying campaign, against Iraq in Perth and the UAE away from home, Ikonomidis is hoping to add significantly to his six Socceroo caps.

The Sydney-born 21-year-old, who played at Sutherland Sharks in Sydney before moving to Italy as a 17-year-old to pursue a professional career, joined Lazio’s youth team in 2013 and made his senior debut last season when he was loaned out to Italian Serie B club Salernitana, for whom he made 14 senior appearances and scored one goal.

Following Australia’s two World Cup qualifying matches Ikonomidis will fly to Denmark to join his new team mates at AGF. Amongst them will be fellow Australian midfielder Mustafa Amini who has signed a three year deal with the club.

AGF Sports Director Jens Andersson said in a statement, ” Chris is a talented player that has flair. With his speed and technique, he can get involved with collective play and create something on his own. He also knows the way to goal and in that way he makes our play more unpredictable and gives us more options to choose from in attack. He will certainly be exciting for AGF.”